Commode



UNITED STATES PATENT ()FEICE.

DAVID K. OSBOURNE, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

COMMODE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,438, dated June 13, 1893.

Application filed May 14, 1892. $erial No. 432,991. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID K. OsBoUENE, of St. Paul, Ramsey county, Minnesota, have invented certain Improvements in Prison-Cell Oommodes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in commodes and soil buckets for use in prison and jail cells; its object being to provide an improved form of'self sealing bucket, and'of a fixed compartment or commode therefor, the lid of which shall automatically engage with the lid of the bucket when the bucket is placed therein and lift the same with it, and also improved means for interlocking the commode lid with the sliding outer door of the commode, and also for automatically locking the door at each limit of its movement.

To this end my invention consists in arranging upon the underside of the commode lid and on the top of the bucket lid respect- 1 ively, a dovetail orT shaped guide, and a rib fitted thereto,'whereby the lids are always interlocked when thebucket is in place, and the lifting of the commode lidraises the bucket lid.

My invention further consists in providing upon the commode lid a downwardly and rearwardly extending projection from its hinged edge, and providing upon the sliding commode door a hook projection which, when the door is raised, will strike against the projection on the commode lid, if the lid be raised, and close it, whereby it is impossible for both the commode lid and the outer door to be open at the same time. I also provide a spring catch which engages the outer sliding door of the commode and looks it either in closed or open position. When in open position the door engages by means of said arm, the commode lid and firmly closes it.

My invention further consists in the construction and combination hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a'sectionalside elevation of the commode, and its inclosed bucket, showing the interlocking mechanism for their lids, and for the commode lid and outer door. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation and partial section of the same. Figs. 3'and 4 are details of the interlocking guide and rib upon the lids of the commode and bucket. Fig. 5 is a detail of the spring catch engaging the sliding door.

In the drawings 2 represents a sheet metal cell partition, through which passes the tubes 3 forming the rear cell wall. Arranged in the corner of the cell thus formed, is the commode A, formed preferably of sheet metal, the side walls 4 of which have inturned lower edges 5, by means of which they are secured to the floor of the cell, the bottom of the interior of the commode being filled in with concrete or other suitable material 6, which anchors and further secures the sides. Upon the outside of the tubes forming the rear wall are arranged vertical guides 7 and 8, in which is arranged the sliding sheet metal door 9, which when in raised position as indicated in Fig. 2, gives access to theinterior of the commode. The spring hasp 10 is permanently secured at one end upon the face of the guide 8, its free end being provided with aslot 12 to pass over the staple 13', projecting from the guide and adapted to receive the padlock 14, or other securing device. This hasp is provided with a pin or catch 15 which projects into the Way 16 in the guide, and is arranged in such position that it engages the top of the door 9 and holds it in closed position, and also engages the bottom of the door when raised to its limit, so as to support it in such position. The door is freed from the catch when in either position, by simply springing the hasp outward until its pin is withdrawn from the guide sufficiently to allow the door to pass. Then the padlock is inserted in the staple the spring is held closed against the guide, thus locking the stop therein and preventing the door from being moved.

The soil bucket B is of such size as to be inserted through the open door way of the commode, and to fit closely therein. It is provided with the detachable hinged top or lid 17, fitting closely within the top 18, and provided with a gasket 19, preferably of rubber tubing, which tightly seals the bucket. When the bucket is in place in the commode, its top stands directly underneath the opening 20 in the top 26 of the commode. This opening is closed by means of a metallic lid 21, which has hinged connection with the top of the commode, consisting of the downwardly ICO and rearwardly bent projection 22 inserted through the slotted opening 23 in the top 26, and therein permanentlysecured, as by means of the rivet 24 inserted through the projection 22, and preventing its withdrawal from the slot. This allows the lid to be turned upward to a vertical position, where it is held from further backward movement by means of the stop 25 arranged upon the lid, and adapted to bear upon the top of the commode. In order to interlock the lids 17 and 21, I arrange upon one a T shaped or dovetail rib or tenon 27, and upon the other a corresponding guide or groove 28, adapted to receive the rib. lhese parts are so arranged that when the bucket 1s slipped into the commode, they will engage with each other and guide the bucket to its place, holding it from lateral movement. The lid 21 when raised, also lifts the lid 17, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. The bucket can thus be removed from the commode only when the lid is closed.

In order to prevent the possibility either by accident or collusion, of the lid and sliding door of the commode being opened at the same time, I provide upon the door 9 an inwardly pro ecting arm 29, having an upturned point 5:30. In case the lid of the commode is stand- 1n g open when the door 9 is raised, this point will engage the projection 22 of the lid, forcing it backward and upward, so as to close the lid, the point bearing against the projection, when the door has been raised to its limit and locked. Consequently it will be seen that the lid 21 must always be locked closed when the door is open. By these means any possibility of escape through the openings is prevented.

I claim 1. The combination with the commode, the bucket fitted thereto, and their lids, of a projection upon one lid adapted to engage a guide upon the other, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the commode, its hinged lid, the bucket fitted to said commode, its lid, an automatic sealing attachment to said bucket lid, a guide upon one lid, and a projection upon the other adapted to engage therewith, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the commode, its hinged lid, the bucket fitted to said commode,

its selfsealing lid, the T. shaped or dovetail rib upon one and the corresponding guide upon the other adapted to engage with each other as the'bucket is inserted in the commode, whereby the bucket is guided and held in proper position, and the lifting of the commode lid also raises the bucket lid, substantially as described.

l. The combination with the commode having a sliding outer door, and hinged lid, of a projection upon said lid, and an arm upon said door adapted when the door is raised to engage said projection and to close said lid and to lock the same in closed position, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the commode, its hinged lid, and vertically sliding outer door, of the projection upon each adapted to be brought into engagement with the raising of the door and to close and lock said lid, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the commode, its hinged lid, the bucket fitted to said commode, its lid, means for guiding and holding said bucket in proper position in said commode, and interlocking devices upon said lids, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the commode, its hinged lid, the bucket fitted to said commode, its lid, the automatic interlocking devices upon said lids adapted to engage with each other as the bucket is inserted into the commode, whereby the lifting of the commode lid raises the bucket lid, and means for automatically sealing said bucket when said lids areclosed, substantially as described.

8. The combination of the commode, its hinged lid, the bucket fitted to said commode, means for guiding it into place in said com- -mode, its lid having an automatic sealing attachment, and the devices upon said lids adapted to engage with each other as the bucket is inserted in said commode, whereby the bucket lid is raised by means of the commode lid, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of May, 1892.

DAVID K. OSBOURNE.

In presence of- 'l. D. MERWIN, H. S. JOHNSON. 

